Customer Reviews

Underneath the Laughter

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It looks like this CD is OOP, which is a shame. Generally when I think of a five star CD, I think of something that breaks the boundaries of the genre it is generally percieved to fall into. This CD is straight EBM, but it is just so good it deserves 5 stars anyway. From start to finish the production is stellar, the composition is magnificent, and the beats are unbelievable. If you are into Industrial music, you should consider spending the brutal price this one is going for used. This is one of the genres benchmark albums.

If you've ever considered purchasing a Leæther Strip CD, you need to pick this up. It is quintessential Leæther Strip. This is Claus Larsen's most evil and fast paced bit of dancefloor EBM to date. Songs like 'Turn To Stone', 'Another World' and 'Don't Tame Your Soul' are classics that could get anyone revved up. However, every song on this disc is a burner, even some of the lesser tracks like 'White Disgrace'.

Any lover of EBM or industrial should have this CD included in your personal library. Anything otherwise is sacrilege.

When you think of dark, evil musicians, many think of Marilyn Manson. Few in this country have heard of Claus Larsen. The genius behind Leather Strip. Claus performs a dark brilliance in his music far better than most. Marilyn Manson may appear 'evil' on the outside, but Claus can deliver the same effect in a much more suttle way. Not to mention that he's also 100 times more talented. I guess the way to get attention or fame in this country has purely to do with 'image'. Apparently painting your face and lighting goats on fire on a public stage is how you become popular in this country rather than just writing good music. Perhaps that's why Marilyn Manson is more popular around here than Claus Larsen. Marilyn should take lessons from Claus on how to write truely dark, menacing music rather than feeding off America's hunger for a 'freakshow' image because that's the only thing he can do well. Anyway, that's my rant, now about the album. This is probably Claus's best work. I chose to review this one because from beginning to end each song never lets up. Every song flows into the next very well. From start to finish every song is as evil as the next. From "Turn to Stone" right up until the last beat in "White Discrace" it makes you go "wow, that was good. It's a true venture into the dark world of underground music.